Shapes and Patterns
Shapesandpatternscanalsobeusedtocreateinterestand
movementinthecompositionofaportrait,especiallywhen
thesearerepeated;theycanbeextremelypleasingtothe
viewer as they are easy graphic cues for our brains to
decipherandmakesenseof.Ifusedsympatheticallythey
can enhance the flow and aesthetic quality of an image.
Lines
Whethertheyarestraight,curvedorconverging,linesarea
fabulousgraphicwaytodrawtheviewerintotheportrait,
allowingthephotographerto usethemto placethefocal
point of the image with ease. When looking for these
elementsonthelocationshootyoucaneasilyfindnatural
linesinroads,pathways,walls,fencingandofcoursethe
horizon.
Whenusing linesas partofthe image composition you
mustbesurethattheydonotimpactonthesuccessofthe
portraitbycuttingthoughthesubject;thiscanveryeasily
beavoidedbymovingaroundthesubjectandensuringthat
no elements intersect the body.
USING DEPTH OF FIELD
When shooting portraitureon location the photographer
willneedtohaveagoodunderstandingofdepthoffield
andhowitcanchangetheoverallfeelofanimage.Depth
offieldissimplytheareaofanimagefromneartofarthat
isseenasacceptablysharptotheeye–itcanbeeithera